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Alum MIG - I've lost it

07-22-2013, 09:29 AM

Hi All,

I am attempting to re-educate myself on alum MIG. and failing.
It has been over 6 years since I have done this proceedure and have found that I am having a more problems than expected. The project is 3/4" 6061-t6 simple fillet two sides. Clean material with lacquer thinner and a ss brush. Pre-heat the pieces. 100% argon, spool gun 4043 wire, I have 3/64". I know 1/16" would be better, just starting with what I have in stock.

I have moved voltage up 2 and down 3volts have ajusted wire speed all over the map, checked for leaks in the argon supply. I am out of ideas. I moved the weld speed so fast that it was ok but lacked penetration.

Comment

When I do heavy aluminum with my MM250 with 30a spool gun. I watch the puddle carefully as soot tends to build up at front of puddle sometimes. Then I stop, clean & restart or I get a hole in the weld.

Comment

I am using my xmt350 with a spool gun
I have my argon a little low on volume, running around 20cfm so I will turn that up
gun +
200 to 220 preheat
I am pushing but I think the cfm being turned up should help with the shield
The wire is old but it is kept in a sealed can
I've been looking at the plate I am using to re-educated and the oxide layer is really heavy, so I will be using all the info presented here and I will take a mill cut on the surface before the final cleaning, just in case I haven't cleared it off all the way.